When it comes to literature, teaching the classics is important. But it's a good idea to add contemporary titles to your curriculum, too, especially if your students sometimes have trouble connecting with older texts.
That’s why we created the Discovering Literature collection, a curated selection of noteworthy books that are capturing the attention of teachers and students across the country.
In this month’s Discovering Literature Digest, you’ll find four moving stories about life and love, all tackling these themes in remarkable ways. From a poignant family drama to finding love in the face of death to a tale of wilderness survival, these novels offer something for every student.
Bridge of Clay
Alternating between the past and present, Bridge of Clay is a story of family, heartbreak, and forgiveness. After their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, the five Dunbar brothers are left to raise themselves in the suburbs of Sydney. Told from the perspective of Matthew, the eldest son, the story follows the brothers as they try to navigate the world on their own. And when their father suddenly returns to make amends, only Clay, the most sensitive of the siblings, decides to try and patch their family back together.
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They Both Die at the End
One night in September, Rufus Emeterio and Mateo Torrez each receive a phone call from Death-Cast, a company that is able to predict one’s death, informing them that they have 24 hours left to live. Rufus and Mateo are total strangers, but after connecting on an app called Last Friend, they meet up to do the impossible: to live a lifetime in a single day. Though the title reveals the story’s conclusion, readers will undoubtedly follow Rufus and Mateo to the end. Named one of Book Riot’s Best Queer Books of 2017, They Both Die at the End tackles heavy subjects like loss, love, acceptance, and the meaning of life.
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Five Feet Apart
Ever since she was young, Stella has been in and out of the hospital, thanks to cystic fibrosis. Now, Stella has to stay no less than six feet apart from anyone or anything that might give her an infection and ruin her chances of a lung transplant. Her only problem? Will, another patient at the hospital participating in a clinical drug trial. As they fall in love, Stella and Will must be careful, knowing that coming any closer could jeopardize both of their lives.
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Be Not Far from Me
What was supposed to be a night of partying in the Smoky Mountains turns into one of terror after Ashley Hawkins catches her boyfriend with another girl. In a panic, she runs into the dark woods and falls down a ravine. As morning comes, Ashley realizes she’s completely alone, lost in the forest with only the clothes on her back. To escape the mountains, Ashley must rely on her survival skills, knowing that giving up almost certainly means death. Violent scenes and sexual content make this book better suited for mature students.
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Find even more exciting books in the Discovering Literature collection!